User:1234567/Sandbox 1 - Revision history

Sahab at 15:03, 25 July 2013

2013-07-25T15:03:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:03, 25 July 2013
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	==Aisha bint Abi Bakr==		<!-- ==Aisha bint Abi Bakr==

	[[File:DanishAisha.jpg\|right\|thumb\|Aisha’s wedding day. Commissioned for Bluitgen, K. (2006). ''Koranen og profeten Muhammeds Liv'' (''The Quran and the Life of the Prophet Muhammad''). Copenhagen: Hoest & Soen. The artist chose to remain anonymous.\|300px]]		[[File:DanishAisha.jpg\|right\|thumb\|Aisha’s wedding day. Commissioned for Bluitgen, K. (2006). ''Koranen og profeten Muhammeds Liv'' (''The Quran and the Life of the Prophet Muhammad''). Copenhagen: Hoest & Soen. The artist chose to remain anonymous.\|300px]]
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	===References===		===References===
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
			-->

Axius: /* Islam */

2013-07-18T11:39:19Z

Islam

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:39, 18 July 2013
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	===Islam===		===Islam===

	Aisha hung a curtain decorated with winged horses and birds<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5354, #5355.</ref> in front of a cupboard. Muhammad pulled it down, complaining that it distracted him from his prayers. But when Aisha sewed the curtain into two cushions, he did not object to sitting on these.<ref>{{Bukhari\|1\|8\|371}}; {{Bukhari\|3\|43\|659}}; Nasa’i vol. 6 pp. 182-186 #5356, #5357 #5358, #5359.</ref> Another day he stood at her door with a “sign of disgust on his face”. She asked what she had done wrong, and he replied, “What about this cushion?” It was decorated with pictures. She said that she had bought it especially for him “to sit and recline on.” He told her: “The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection ... The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|3\|34\|318}}.</ref> But Muhammad did not object to “a plush wrap, with a border on it, that we would wear.”<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5355.</ref> He forbade musical instruments,<ref>[{{Bukhari-url-only\|7\|69\|494}}v Sahih Bukhari 7\|69\|494v]</ref> especially bells<ref>{{Muslim\|24\|5279}}.</ref> and singing,<ref>{{Abudawud\|41\|4090}}.</ref> yet when Aisha arranged a wedding party, he admonished her for not providing singers “for the ''Ansar'' are a people who give a place to love songs.”<ref>[http://www.oocities.org/tirmidhihadith/page6.html/ Tirmidhi 3154, 3155.]</ref> When Aisha refused to admit her foster-mother’s brother-in-law to her house, Muhammad said that she should have let him in “for he is your paternal uncle.” Aisha pointed out that it was the woman, not her husband, who had breast-fed her, but Muhammad explained that her foster-mother’s husband was still considered like a father to her.<ref>Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 144 #3315; p. 145 #3317.</ref> Yet when he found Aisha sitting unveiled with her foster-brother, presumably a younger man, he showed anger and warned her, “Be careful whom you count as your brothers.”<ref> Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 143 #3314.</ref> No matter how obscure the rules, no matter how complex the list of exceptions to the rules, ''hadith'' after ''hadith'' shows that Aisha tried to comply.		Aisha hung a curtain decorated with winged horses and birds<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5354, #5355.</ref> in front of a cupboard. Muhammad pulled it down, complaining that it distracted him from his prayers. But when Aisha sewed the curtain into two cushions, he did not object to sitting on these.<ref>{{Bukhari\|1\|8\|371}}; {{Bukhari\|3\|43\|659}}; Nasa’i vol. 6 pp. 182-186 #5356, #5357 #5358, #5359.</ref> Another day he stood at her door with a “sign of disgust on his face”. She asked what she had done wrong, and he replied, “What about this cushion?” It was decorated with pictures. She said that she had bought it especially for him “to sit and recline on.” He told her: “The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection ... The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|3\|34\|318}}.</ref> But Muhammad did not object to “a plush wrap, with a border on it, that we would wear.”<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5355.</ref> He forbade musical instruments,<ref>[{{Bukhari-url-only\|7\|69\|494}}v Sahih Bukhari 7:69:494v]</ref> especially bells<ref>{{Muslim\|24\|5279}}.</ref> and singing,<ref>{{Abudawud\|41\|4090}}.</ref> yet when Aisha arranged a wedding party, he admonished her for not providing singers “for the ''Ansar'' are a people who give a place to love songs.”<ref>[http://www.oocities.org/tirmidhihadith/page6.html/ Tirmidhi 3154, 3155.]</ref> When Aisha refused to admit her foster-mother’s brother-in-law to her house, Muhammad said that she should have let him in “for he is your paternal uncle.” Aisha pointed out that it was the woman, not her husband, who had breast-fed her, but Muhammad explained that her foster-mother’s husband was still considered like a father to her.<ref>Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 144 #3315; p. 145 #3317.</ref> Yet when he found Aisha sitting unveiled with her foster-brother, presumably a younger man, he showed anger and warned her, “Be careful whom you count as your brothers.”<ref> Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 143 #3314.</ref> No matter how obscure the rules, no matter how complex the list of exceptions to the rules, ''hadith'' after ''hadith'' shows that Aisha tried to comply.

	Despite this, there is no real evidence that Aisha “believed” Islam in the sense of giving intellectual assent to the literal existence of Allah. On the contrary, she expressed her scepticism to Muhammad’s face. When he told her that Allah had given him permission to reject or accept as many as he liked of the women who offered to marry him, with no need to pay a dower,<ref>{{Quran\|33\|51}}.</ref> she responded, “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires!”<ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=60&translator=1&start=307&number=307/ Bukhari 6:60:311.] See also {{Muslim\|8\|3453}}; {{Muslim\|8\|3454}}.</ref> When she was accused of infidelity, she wept night and day as long as she feared Muhammad might divorce her. But when he finally spoke to her directly about the accusations, he did not mention the usual punishment for adultery but only said, “Fear Allah, and if you have done wrong as men say, then repent towards Allah, for he accepts repentance from his slaves.” At this hint that Muhammad intended to exonerate her, “my tears ceased, and I could not feel them.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 496; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Muhammad immediately entered the prophetic trance to hear Allah’s verdict, and “I felt no fear or alarm … [but] as for my parents … I thought that they would die from fear.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 497; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Aisha was not afraid of Allah because she already knew that Muhammad had decided in her favour – that is, she knew who Allah really was. In one quarrel she told her husband directly: “You are the one who ''claims'' to be the Prophet of Allah!”<ref>[http://www.ghazali.org/books/marriage.pdf/ Farah/Ghazali vol. 2 p. 95.]</ref>		Despite this, there is no real evidence that Aisha “believed” Islam in the sense of giving intellectual assent to the literal existence of Allah. On the contrary, she expressed her scepticism to Muhammad’s face. When he told her that Allah had given him permission to reject or accept as many as he liked of the women who offered to marry him, with no need to pay a dower,<ref>{{Quran\|33\|51}}.</ref> she responded, “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires!”<ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=60&translator=1&start=307&number=307/ Bukhari 6:60:311.] See also {{Muslim\|8\|3453}}; {{Muslim\|8\|3454}}.</ref> When she was accused of infidelity, she wept night and day as long as she feared Muhammad might divorce her. But when he finally spoke to her directly about the accusations, he did not mention the usual punishment for adultery but only said, “Fear Allah, and if you have done wrong as men say, then repent towards Allah, for he accepts repentance from his slaves.” At this hint that Muhammad intended to exonerate her, “my tears ceased, and I could not feel them.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 496; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Muhammad immediately entered the prophetic trance to hear Allah’s verdict, and “I felt no fear or alarm … [but] as for my parents … I thought that they would die from fear.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 497; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Aisha was not afraid of Allah because she already knew that Muhammad had decided in her favour – that is, she knew who Allah really was. In one quarrel she told her husband directly: “You are the one who ''claims'' to be the Prophet of Allah!”<ref>[http://www.ghazali.org/books/marriage.pdf/ Farah/Ghazali vol. 2 p. 95.]</ref>

Axius at 11:38, 18 July 2013

2013-07-18T11:38:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:38, 18 July 2013
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	===Islam===		===Islam===

	Aisha hung a curtain decorated with winged horses and birds<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5354, #5355.</ref> in front of a cupboard. Muhammad pulled it down, complaining that it distracted him from his prayers. But when Aisha sewed the curtain into two cushions, he did not object to sitting on these.<ref>{{Bukhari\|1\|8\|371}}; {{Bukhari\|3\|43\|659}}; Nasa’i vol. 6 pp. 182-186 #5356, #5357 #5358, #5359.</ref> Another day he stood at her door with a “sign of disgust on his face”. She asked what she had done wrong, and he replied, “What about this cushion?” It was decorated with pictures. She said that she had bought it especially for him “to sit and recline on.” He told her: “The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection ... The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|3\|34\|318}}.</ref> But Muhammad did not object to “a plush wrap, with a border on it, that we would wear.”<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5355.</ref> He forbade musical instruments,<ref>{{Bukhari\|7\|69\|494}}v.</ref> especially bells<ref>{{Muslim\|24\|5279}}.</ref> and singing,<ref>{{Abudawud\|41\|4090}}.</ref> yet when Aisha arranged a wedding party, he admonished her for not providing singers “for the ''Ansar'' are a people who give a place to love songs.”<ref>[http://www.oocities.org/tirmidhihadith/page6.html/ Tirmidhi 3154, 3155.]</ref> When Aisha refused to admit her foster-mother’s brother-in-law to her house, Muhammad said that she should have let him in “for he is your paternal uncle.” Aisha pointed out that it was the woman, not her husband, who had breast-fed her, but Muhammad explained that her foster-mother’s husband was still considered like a father to her.<ref>Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 144 #3315; p. 145 #3317.</ref> Yet when he found Aisha sitting unveiled with her foster-brother, presumably a younger man, he showed anger and warned her, “Be careful whom you count as your brothers.”<ref> Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 143 #3314.</ref> No matter how obscure the rules, no matter how complex the list of exceptions to the rules, ''hadith'' after ''hadith'' shows that Aisha tried to comply.		Aisha hung a curtain decorated with winged horses and birds<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5354, #5355.</ref> in front of a cupboard. Muhammad pulled it down, complaining that it distracted him from his prayers. But when Aisha sewed the curtain into two cushions, he did not object to sitting on these.<ref>{{Bukhari\|1\|8\|371}}; {{Bukhari\|3\|43\|659}}; Nasa’i vol. 6 pp. 182-186 #5356, #5357 #5358, #5359.</ref> Another day he stood at her door with a “sign of disgust on his face”. She asked what she had done wrong, and he replied, “What about this cushion?” It was decorated with pictures. She said that she had bought it especially for him “to sit and recline on.” He told her: “The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection ... The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|3\|34\|318}}.</ref> But Muhammad did not object to “a plush wrap, with a border on it, that we would wear.”<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5355.</ref> He forbade musical instruments,<ref>[{{Bukhari-url-only\|7\|69\|494}}v Sahih Bukhari 7\|69\|494v]</ref> especially bells<ref>{{Muslim\|24\|5279}}.</ref> and singing,<ref>{{Abudawud\|41\|4090}}.</ref> yet when Aisha arranged a wedding party, he admonished her for not providing singers “for the ''Ansar'' are a people who give a place to love songs.”<ref>[http://www.oocities.org/tirmidhihadith/page6.html/ Tirmidhi 3154, 3155.]</ref> When Aisha refused to admit her foster-mother’s brother-in-law to her house, Muhammad said that she should have let him in “for he is your paternal uncle.” Aisha pointed out that it was the woman, not her husband, who had breast-fed her, but Muhammad explained that her foster-mother’s husband was still considered like a father to her.<ref>Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 144 #3315; p. 145 #3317.</ref> Yet when he found Aisha sitting unveiled with her foster-brother, presumably a younger man, he showed anger and warned her, “Be careful whom you count as your brothers.”<ref> Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 143 #3314.</ref> No matter how obscure the rules, no matter how complex the list of exceptions to the rules, ''hadith'' after ''hadith'' shows that Aisha tried to comply.

	Despite this, there is no real evidence that Aisha “believed” Islam in the sense of giving intellectual assent to the literal existence of Allah. On the contrary, she expressed her scepticism to Muhammad’s face. When he told her that Allah had given him permission to reject or accept as many as he liked of the women who offered to marry him, with no need to pay a dower,<ref>{{Quran\|33\|51}}.</ref> she responded, “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires!”<ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=60&translator=1&start=307&number=307/ Bukhari 6:60:311.] See also {{Muslim\|8\|3453}}; {{Muslim\|8\|3454}}.</ref> When she was accused of infidelity, she wept night and day as long as she feared Muhammad might divorce her. But when he finally spoke to her directly about the accusations, he did not mention the usual punishment for adultery but only said, “Fear Allah, and if you have done wrong as men say, then repent towards Allah, for he accepts repentance from his slaves.” At this hint that Muhammad intended to exonerate her, “my tears ceased, and I could not feel them.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 496; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Muhammad immediately entered the prophetic trance to hear Allah’s verdict, and “I felt no fear or alarm … [but] as for my parents … I thought that they would die from fear.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 497; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Aisha was not afraid of Allah because she already knew that Muhammad had decided in her favour – that is, she knew who Allah really was. In one quarrel she told her husband directly: “You are the one who ''claims'' to be the Prophet of Allah!”<ref>[http://www.ghazali.org/books/marriage.pdf/ Farah/Ghazali vol. 2 p. 95.]</ref>		Despite this, there is no real evidence that Aisha “believed” Islam in the sense of giving intellectual assent to the literal existence of Allah. On the contrary, she expressed her scepticism to Muhammad’s face. When he told her that Allah had given him permission to reject or accept as many as he liked of the women who offered to marry him, with no need to pay a dower,<ref>{{Quran\|33\|51}}.</ref> she responded, “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires!”<ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=60&translator=1&start=307&number=307/ Bukhari 6:60:311.] See also {{Muslim\|8\|3453}}; {{Muslim\|8\|3454}}.</ref> When she was accused of infidelity, she wept night and day as long as she feared Muhammad might divorce her. But when he finally spoke to her directly about the accusations, he did not mention the usual punishment for adultery but only said, “Fear Allah, and if you have done wrong as men say, then repent towards Allah, for he accepts repentance from his slaves.” At this hint that Muhammad intended to exonerate her, “my tears ceased, and I could not feel them.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 496; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Muhammad immediately entered the prophetic trance to hear Allah’s verdict, and “I felt no fear or alarm … [but] as for my parents … I thought that they would die from fear.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 497; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Aisha was not afraid of Allah because she already knew that Muhammad had decided in her favour – that is, she knew who Allah really was. In one quarrel she told her husband directly: “You are the one who ''claims'' to be the Prophet of Allah!”<ref>[http://www.ghazali.org/books/marriage.pdf/ Farah/Ghazali vol. 2 p. 95.]</ref>

Axius: /* Islam */

2013-07-18T11:35:53Z

Islam

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:35, 18 July 2013
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	===Islam===		===Islam===

	Aisha hung a curtain decorated with winged horses and birds<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5354, #5355.</ref> in front of a cupboard. Muhammad pulled it down, complaining that it distracted him from his prayers. But when Aisha sewed the curtain into two cushions, he did not object to sitting on these.<ref>{{Bukhari\|1\|8\|371}}; {{Bukhari\|3\|43\|659}}; Nasa’i vol. 6 pp. 182-186 #5356, #5357 #5358, #5359.</ref> Another day he stood at her door with a “sign of disgust on his face”. She asked what she had done wrong, and he replied, “What about this cushion?” It was decorated with pictures. She said that she had bought it especially for him “to sit and recline on.” He told her: “The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection ... The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|3\|34\|318}}.</ref> But Muhammad did not object to “a plush wrap, with a border on it, that we would wear.”<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5355.</ref> He forbade musical instruments,<ref>{{Bukhari\|7\|69\|~~494v~~}}.</ref> especially bells<ref>{{Muslim\|24\|5279}}.</ref> and singing,<ref>{{Abudawud\|41\|4090}}.</ref> yet when Aisha arranged a wedding party, he admonished her for not providing singers “for the ''Ansar'' are a people who give a place to love songs.”<ref>[http://www.oocities.org/tirmidhihadith/page6.html/ Tirmidhi 3154, 3155.]</ref> When Aisha refused to admit her foster-mother’s brother-in-law to her house, Muhammad said that she should have let him in “for he is your paternal uncle.” Aisha pointed out that it was the woman, not her husband, who had breast-fed her, but Muhammad explained that her foster-mother’s husband was still considered like a father to her.<ref>Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 144 #3315; p. 145 #3317.</ref> Yet when he found Aisha sitting unveiled with her foster-brother, presumably a younger man, he showed anger and warned her, “Be careful whom you count as your brothers.”<ref> Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 143 #3314.</ref> No matter how obscure the rules, no matter how complex the list of exceptions to the rules, ''hadith'' after ''hadith'' shows that Aisha tried to comply.		Aisha hung a curtain decorated with winged horses and birds<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5354, #5355.</ref> in front of a cupboard. Muhammad pulled it down, complaining that it distracted him from his prayers. But when Aisha sewed the curtain into two cushions, he did not object to sitting on these.<ref>{{Bukhari\|1\|8\|371}}; {{Bukhari\|3\|43\|659}}; Nasa’i vol. 6 pp. 182-186 #5356, #5357 #5358, #5359.</ref> Another day he stood at her door with a “sign of disgust on his face”. She asked what she had done wrong, and he replied, “What about this cushion?” It was decorated with pictures. She said that she had bought it especially for him “to sit and recline on.” He told her: “The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection ... The angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|3\|34\|318}}.</ref> But Muhammad did not object to “a plush wrap, with a border on it, that we would wear.”<ref>Nasa’i vol. 6 p. 182 #5355.</ref> He forbade musical instruments,<ref>{{Bukhari\|7\|69\|494}}v.</ref> especially bells<ref>{{Muslim\|24\|5279}}.</ref> and singing,<ref>{{Abudawud\|41\|4090}}.</ref> yet when Aisha arranged a wedding party, he admonished her for not providing singers “for the ''Ansar'' are a people who give a place to love songs.”<ref>[http://www.oocities.org/tirmidhihadith/page6.html/ Tirmidhi 3154, 3155.]</ref> When Aisha refused to admit her foster-mother’s brother-in-law to her house, Muhammad said that she should have let him in “for he is your paternal uncle.” Aisha pointed out that it was the woman, not her husband, who had breast-fed her, but Muhammad explained that her foster-mother’s husband was still considered like a father to her.<ref>Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 144 #3315; p. 145 #3317.</ref> Yet when he found Aisha sitting unveiled with her foster-brother, presumably a younger man, he showed anger and warned her, “Be careful whom you count as your brothers.”<ref> Nasa’i vol. 4 p. 143 #3314.</ref> No matter how obscure the rules, no matter how complex the list of exceptions to the rules, ''hadith'' after ''hadith'' shows that Aisha tried to comply.

	Despite this, there is no real evidence that Aisha “believed” Islam in the sense of giving intellectual assent to the literal existence of Allah. On the contrary, she expressed her scepticism to Muhammad’s face. When he told her that Allah had given him permission to reject or accept as many as he liked of the women who offered to marry him, with no need to pay a dower,<ref>{{Quran\|33\|51}}.</ref> she responded, “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires!”<ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=60&translator=1&start=307&number=307/ Bukhari 6:60:311.] See also {{Muslim\|8\|3453}}; {{Muslim\|8\|3454}}.</ref> When she was accused of infidelity, she wept night and day as long as she feared Muhammad might divorce her. But when he finally spoke to her directly about the accusations, he did not mention the usual punishment for adultery but only said, “Fear Allah, and if you have done wrong as men say, then repent towards Allah, for he accepts repentance from his slaves.” At this hint that Muhammad intended to exonerate her, “my tears ceased, and I could not feel them.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 496; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Muhammad immediately entered the prophetic trance to hear Allah’s verdict, and “I felt no fear or alarm … [but] as for my parents … I thought that they would die from fear.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 497; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Aisha was not afraid of Allah because she already knew that Muhammad had decided in her favour – that is, she knew who Allah really was. In one quarrel she told her husband directly: “You are the one who ''claims'' to be the Prophet of Allah!”<ref>[http://www.ghazali.org/books/marriage.pdf/ Farah/Ghazali vol. 2 p. 95.]</ref>		Despite this, there is no real evidence that Aisha “believed” Islam in the sense of giving intellectual assent to the literal existence of Allah. On the contrary, she expressed her scepticism to Muhammad’s face. When he told her that Allah had given him permission to reject or accept as many as he liked of the women who offered to marry him, with no need to pay a dower,<ref>{{Quran\|33\|51}}.</ref> she responded, “I feel that your Lord hastens in fulfilling your wishes and desires!”<ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=60&translator=1&start=307&number=307/ Bukhari 6:60:311.] See also {{Muslim\|8\|3453}}; {{Muslim\|8\|3454}}.</ref> When she was accused of infidelity, she wept night and day as long as she feared Muhammad might divorce her. But when he finally spoke to her directly about the accusations, he did not mention the usual punishment for adultery but only said, “Fear Allah, and if you have done wrong as men say, then repent towards Allah, for he accepts repentance from his slaves.” At this hint that Muhammad intended to exonerate her, “my tears ceased, and I could not feel them.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 496; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Muhammad immediately entered the prophetic trance to hear Allah’s verdict, and “I felt no fear or alarm … [but] as for my parents … I thought that they would die from fear.”<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq p. 497; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> Aisha was not afraid of Allah because she already knew that Muhammad had decided in her favour – that is, she knew who Allah really was. In one quarrel she told her husband directly: “You are the one who ''claims'' to be the Prophet of Allah!”<ref>[http://www.ghazali.org/books/marriage.pdf/ Farah/Ghazali vol. 2 p. 95.]</ref>

1234567 at 07:21, 18 July 2013

2013-07-18T07:21:48Z

Show changes

1234567: /* Reasons for the Marriage */

2013-06-23T09:32:31Z

Reasons for the Marriage

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:32, 23 June 2013
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	What Muhammad later said was that [[Allah]] had instructed him to marry Aisha. He said the angel [[Gabriel\|Jibreel]] had appeared to him in a dream, holding a veiled child and saying, “Messenger of Allah, this one will remove some of your sorrow. This one has some of the qualities of Khadijah.” Then he lifted the veil, revealing that the child was Aisha.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:54-55; {{Muslim\|31\|5977}}.</ref> In a second dream, Jibreel showed him Aisha’s portrait painted on silk, promising, “She will be your wife in Paradise.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|5\|58\|235}}; {{Bukhari\|9\|87\|140}}.</ref> If Muhammad really had any such dream, it is disturbing that he would act on it so literally.		What Muhammad later said was that [[Allah]] had instructed him to marry Aisha. He said the angel [[Gabriel\|Jibreel]] had appeared to him in a dream, holding a veiled child and saying, “Messenger of Allah, this one will remove some of your sorrow. This one has some of the qualities of Khadijah.” Then he lifted the veil, revealing that the child was Aisha.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:54-55; {{Muslim\|31\|5977}}.</ref> In a second dream, Jibreel showed him Aisha’s portrait painted on silk, promising, “She will be your wife in Paradise.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|5\|58\|235}}; {{Bukhari\|9\|87\|140}}.</ref> If Muhammad really had any such dream, it is disturbing that he would act on it so literally.

	Muhammad’s decision to marry Aisha was made less than three weeks after Khadijah’s death<ref>Khadijah died on 10 Ramadan, and Muhammad married Sawdah before Ramadan had ended. Even if he married her on the ''same day'' as Khawlah’s visit (the day he also decided to marry Aisha), this was a maximum of twenty days after Khadijah’s death. Common sense suggests that it would have more likely taken a day or two to organise the wedding, which did not necessarily take place as late as the final day of the month.</ref> while he was grieving. He was not necessarily making wise decisions, even from his own point of view. ~~There is little doubt that~~ Muhammad’s choice of Aisha over Asma ~~was~~ influenced by ~~Aisha’s~~ personal qualities. ~~That she~~ was very pretty was conceded by people who had no vested interest<ref>{{Bukhari\|6\|60\|435}}; {{Bukhari\|7\|62\|145}}.</ref> as well as by those who might have been biased.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 495; {{Bukhari\|3\|48\|829}}; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> She was slim and light-framed<ref>{{Bukhari\|3\|48\|829}}</ref> with a fair, rosy complexion and perhaps also red hair,<ref>In Al-Nasa’i 5:307 and Bewley/Saad 8:55, Muhammad addresses Aisha as ''Humayra'', which means “little red one”. This was not a commonplace nickname, so Aisha’s degree of redness must have been unusual.</ref> which she wore plaited.<ref>{{Abudawud\|1\|241}}.</ref> Her nephew later said, “I did not see a greater scholar than Aisha in poetry, Arab history and genealogy,”<ref>Ahmad ibn Hanbal, ''Musnad'' vol. 6 p. 67; Al-Hakim, ''Mustadrak'' vol. 4 p. 11. See also Al-Dhahabi, “Aisha, Mother of the Faithful” in ''Tadhkirat al-Huffaz'' p. 1/13.</ref> and it was said that there was no one else “more intelligent in opinion if her opinion was sought.”<ref>Ibn Saad, ''Tabaqat'' vol. 2, p. 481.</ref> While we might question whether Muhammad was aware of her intelligence when she was only six years old, she had indeed “some of the qualities of Khadijah,” who is described as “determined and intelligent”.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 82.</ref>		Muhammad’s decision to marry Aisha was made less than three weeks after Khadijah’s death<ref>Khadijah died on 10 Ramadan, and Muhammad married Sawdah before Ramadan had ended. Even if he married her on the ''same day'' as Khawlah’s visit (the day he also decided to marry Aisha), this was a maximum of twenty days after Khadijah’s death. Common sense suggests that it would have more likely taken a day or two to organise the wedding, which did not necessarily take place as late as the final day of the month.</ref> while he was grieving. He was not necessarily making wise decisions, even from his own point of view. Muhammad’s choice of Aisha over Asma must have been influenced by personal qualities that Aisha had and Asma did not. While Asma’s appearance is never described, Aisha was very pretty. This was conceded by people who had no vested interest<ref>{{Bukhari\|6\|60\|435}}; {{Bukhari\|7\|62\|145}}.</ref> as well as by those who might have been biased.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 495; {{Bukhari\|3\|48\|829}}; {{Bukhari\|5\|59\|462}}.</ref> She was slim and light-framed<ref>{{Bukhari\|3\|48\|829}}</ref> with a fair, rosy complexion and perhaps also red hair,<ref>In Al-Nasa’i 5:307 and Bewley/Saad 8:55, Muhammad addresses Aisha as ''Humayra'', which means “little red one”. This was not a commonplace nickname, so Aisha’s degree of redness must have been unusual.</ref> which she wore plaited.<ref>{{Abudawud\|1\|241}}.</ref> Her nephew later said, “I did not see a greater scholar than Aisha in poetry, Arab history and genealogy,”<ref>Ahmad ibn Hanbal, ''Musnad'' vol. 6 p. 67; Al-Hakim, ''Mustadrak'' vol. 4 p. 11. See also Al-Dhahabi, “Aisha, Mother of the Faithful” in ''Tadhkirat al-Huffaz'' p. 1/13.</ref> and it was said that there was no one else “more intelligent in opinion if her opinion was sought.”<ref>Ibn Saad, ''Tabaqat'' vol. 2, p. 481.</ref> While we might question whether Muhammad was aware of her intelligence when she was only six years old, she had indeed “some of the qualities of Khadijah,” who is described as “determined and intelligent”.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 82.</ref>

	===Marriage Contract===		===Marriage Contract===

1234567: /* Reasons for the Marriage */

2013-06-23T09:29:51Z

Reasons for the Marriage

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	When Khadijah died in April 620, “the Prophet was terribly grieved over her,”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:54.</ref> and “people feared for him.”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:44.</ref> After only a few days, Khawlah bint Hakim, the sister-in-law of his friend [[Umar al Khattab (quotes)\|Umar]],<ref>She was married to Uthman ibn Mazoon (Guillaume/Ishaq 590), whose sister Zaynab was married to Umar (Bewley/Saad 8:56).</ref> decided that he needed a new wife. She called on Muhammad to tell him that she knew of both a maid and a matron whom he might [[Marriage\|marry]] and asked which one he would prefer. He immediately responded that he would take them both.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|p. 129}}.</ref>		When Khadijah died in April 620, “the Prophet was terribly grieved over her,”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:54.</ref> and “people feared for him.”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:44.</ref> After only a few days, Khawlah bint Hakim, the sister-in-law of his friend [[Umar al Khattab (quotes)\|Umar]],<ref>She was married to Uthman ibn Mazoon (Guillaume/Ishaq 590), whose sister Zaynab was married to Umar (Bewley/Saad 8:56).</ref> decided that he needed a new wife. She called on Muhammad to tell him that she knew of both a maid and a matron whom he might [[Marriage\|marry]] and asked which one he would prefer. He immediately responded that he would take them both.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|p. 129}}.</ref>

	The maid was Abu Bakr’s daughter. It is often claimed that Muhammad married her “to reinforce the friendly relations already existing with Abu Bakr.”<ref>[http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel6.htm/ ''Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?''].</ref> In one sense this is true: Abu Bakr was one of the few men in Mecca who would still have been willing to give him a daughter.<ref>For Muhammad’s unpopularity with his pagan neighbours, see Guillaume/Ishaq 191-194.</ref> But this assertion mistakes cause and effect. The marriage did not “promote” any alliance with Abu Bakr; rather, it was the existing close bond with Abu Bakr that made the marriage possible. Muhammad’s request to his friend might not even have reflected Khawlah’s original intention, for the oral traditions about Muhammad’s life were first put in writing long after his death,<ref>Siddiqi, M. Z. (2006). ''Hadith Literature: Its Origin, Development, Special Features and Criticism'', pp. 8-9. “''Hadith'' which thus spread throughout the vast Muslim dominions had been preserved for a century partly in writing (in the form of laws and letters dictated by Muhammad himself, and in the form of various ''Sahifahs'' ascribed to many of his Companions), and partly in the memory of those who had associated with him and watched carefully his words and deeds. After the death of Muhammad, Umar I intended to collect the ''Ahadith''. He gave the matter his careful consideration for one whole month, invoking the help of God in his decision, and seeking the advice of his friends. But he had to give up the great project for fear of the Qur’an being neglected by the Muslims.” Kuala Lumpar: Islamic Book Trust.</ref> and it could be that they have been distorted by narrators who did not know about the interview with Khawlah until they also had hind-knowledge of its result. It is not impossible that Khawlah originally mentioned “Abu Bakr’s daughter” without giving the name, and that she had actually been referring to his elder daughter Asma. Regardless of whether or not Khawlah was complicit in the eventual outcome, what happened was that Muhammad~~, the Apostle of Allah,~~ completely overlooked the sixteen-year-old Asma<ref>[http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=4604&CATE=1/ Haddad] cites Al-Dhahabi in ''Siyar Alam al-Nubala'' vol. 2 p. 289: “Asma was ten years older than Aisha.” Haddad points out that Al-Dhahabi elsewhere suggests Asma might have been even older than this, possibly as old as twenty-five.</ref> and asked instead to marry the six-year-old Aisha.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|p. 129}}; {{Bukhari\|7\|62\|18}}.</ref>		The maid was Abu Bakr’s daughter. It is often claimed that Muhammad married her “to reinforce the friendly relations already existing with Abu Bakr.”<ref>[http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel6.htm/ ''Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?''].</ref> In one sense this is true: Abu Bakr was one of the few men in Mecca who would still have been willing to give him a daughter.<ref>For Muhammad’s unpopularity with his pagan neighbours, see Guillaume/Ishaq 191-194.</ref> But this assertion mistakes cause and effect. The marriage did not “promote” any alliance with Abu Bakr; rather, it was the existing close bond with Abu Bakr that made the marriage possible. Muhammad’s request to his friend might not even have reflected Khawlah’s original intention, for the oral traditions about Muhammad’s life were first put in writing long after his death,<ref>Siddiqi, M. Z. (2006). ''Hadith Literature: Its Origin, Development, Special Features and Criticism'', pp. 8-9. “''Hadith'' which thus spread throughout the vast Muslim dominions had been preserved for a century partly in writing (in the form of laws and letters dictated by Muhammad himself, and in the form of various ''Sahifahs'' ascribed to many of his Companions), and partly in the memory of those who had associated with him and watched carefully his words and deeds. After the death of Muhammad, Umar I intended to collect the ''Ahadith''. He gave the matter his careful consideration for one whole month, invoking the help of God in his decision, and seeking the advice of his friends. But he had to give up the great project for fear of the Qur’an being neglected by the Muslims.” Kuala Lumpar: Islamic Book Trust.</ref> and it could be that they have been distorted by narrators who did not know about the interview with Khawlah until they also had hind-knowledge of its result. It is not impossible that Khawlah originally mentioned “Abu Bakr’s daughter” without giving the name, and that she had actually been referring to his elder daughter Asma. Regardless of whether or not Khawlah was complicit in the eventual outcome, what happened was that Muhammad completely overlooked the sixteen-year-old Asma<ref>[http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=4604&CATE=1/ Haddad] cites Al-Dhahabi in ''Siyar Alam al-Nubala'' vol. 2 p. 289: “Asma was ten years older than Aisha.” Haddad points out that Al-Dhahabi elsewhere suggests Asma might have been even older than this, possibly as old as twenty-five.</ref> and asked instead to marry the six-year-old Aisha.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|p. 129}}; {{Bukhari\|7\|62\|18}}.</ref>

	It is also suggested that Muhammad “married Aisha for the benefit of Islam and Humanity … From her, 2210 Hadith have come... Many of her transmissions pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of personal behaviour which only someone in Aisha's position could have learnt.”<ref>[http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel6.htm/ ''Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?'']</ref> There is no evidence to support this theory. If Muhammad had wanted the traditions about his life to be securely transmitted to posterity, he would not have relied on the hope that his young widow might later think of it; he would have arranged to have them committed to writing during his lifetime. He never did. Further, if he had believed that a wife was the best kind of chronicler, he would have chosen an adult spouse who knew how to write. Aisha could in fact read<ref>{{Bukhari\|6\|61\|515}}; {{Muslim\|37\|6673}}.</ref> but she never learned to write.<ref>Baladhuri, ''Conquest of the Lands'', cited in [http://english.sahartv.ir/media/pdf/The%20Unschooled%20Prophet.pdf/ Mutahhari, S. A. M. ''The Unschooled Prophet''. Tehran: Islamic Propagation Organization.] “It is reported that Aisha used to read the Qur’an but she did not write.”</ref>		It is also suggested that Muhammad “married Aisha for the benefit of Islam and Humanity … From her, 2210 Hadith have come... Many of her transmissions pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of personal behaviour which only someone in Aisha's position could have learnt.”<ref>[http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel6.htm/ ''Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?'']</ref> There is no evidence to support this theory. If Muhammad had wanted the traditions about his life to be securely transmitted to posterity, he would not have relied on the hope that his young widow might later think of it; he would have arranged to have them committed to writing during his lifetime. He never did. Further, if he had believed that a wife was the best kind of chronicler, he would have chosen an adult spouse who knew how to write. Aisha could in fact read<ref>{{Bukhari\|6\|61\|515}}; {{Muslim\|37\|6673}}.</ref> but she never learned to write.<ref>Baladhuri, ''Conquest of the Lands'', cited in [http://english.sahartv.ir/media/pdf/The%20Unschooled%20Prophet.pdf/ Mutahhari, S. A. M. ''The Unschooled Prophet''. Tehran: Islamic Propagation Organization.] “It is reported that Aisha used to read the Qur’an but she did not write.”</ref>

1234567 at 09:27, 23 June 2013

2013-06-23T09:27:04Z

Show changes

1234567: /* Poverty */

2013-06-21T02:52:21Z

Poverty

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:52, 21 June 2013
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	Charity was a way of life for the Arabs, and of course the Prophet’s young wife had to set the example. In the early years, beggars sat on the Bench in the mosque courtyard waiting for food distribution.<ref>{{Bukhari\|1\|10\|576}}: “The ''Suffa'' companions were poor people, and the Prophet said, ‘Whoever has food for two persons should take a third one from them.’” See also [http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Life3/chap8.htm/ Muir (1861), pp. 20-21.]</ref> Aisha used to count them until Muhammad told her, “Give and do not calculate, [or else] calculation will be made against you.”<ref>{{Abudawud\|9\|1696}}.</ref> Sometimes he brought them into her house to be fed, although she struggled to find food “as small in quantity as a pigeon” to serve them.<ref>{{Abudawud\|41\|5022}}.</ref> On one occasion a beggar came to her door on a fast-day, and Aisha told her maid to give him their only loaf. The servant protested that there would be nothing to break their fast, but Aisha insisted.<ref>{{Muwatta\|58\|1\|5}}.</ref> On another occasion, a widow with two daughters came begging, and Aisha’s larder was reduced to one date. She handed it over, and the widow divided it between the children without taking anything for herself.<ref>{{Muslim\|32\|6362}}; {{Bukhari\|8\|73\|24}}.</ref> Ibn Kathir, writing seven hundred years after the event, cited this old tradition.		Charity was a way of life for the Arabs, and of course the Prophet’s young wife had to set the example. In the early years, beggars sat on the Bench in the mosque courtyard waiting for food distribution.<ref>{{Bukhari\|1\|10\|576}}: “The ''Suffa'' companions were poor people, and the Prophet said, ‘Whoever has food for two persons should take a third one from them.’” See also [http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Life3/chap8.htm/ Muir (1861), pp. 20-21.]</ref> Aisha used to count them until Muhammad told her, “Give and do not calculate, [or else] calculation will be made against you.”<ref>{{Abudawud\|9\|1696}}.</ref> Sometimes he brought them into her house to be fed, although she struggled to find food “as small in quantity as a pigeon” to serve them.<ref>{{Abudawud\|41\|5022}}.</ref> On one occasion a beggar came to her door on a fast-day, and Aisha told her maid to give him their only loaf. The servant protested that there would be nothing to break their fast, but Aisha insisted.<ref>{{Muwatta\|58\|1\|5}}.</ref> On another occasion, a widow with two daughters came begging, and Aisha’s larder was reduced to one date. She handed it over, and the widow divided it between the children without taking anything for herself.<ref>{{Muslim\|32\|6362}}; {{Bukhari\|8\|73\|24}}.</ref> Ibn Kathir, writing seven hundred years after the event, cited this old tradition.
	{{Quote\|[http://www.islamawareness.net/Muhammed/ibn_kathir_wives.html/ Ibn Kathir, ''The Wives of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)''].\|The Prophet had sacrificed an animal, and Ayesha was so generous in sharing the meat out amongst the poor that she found that she had left nothing for the Messenger’s large household except the shoulder of the animal. Feeling a little distressed, she went to the Prophet, and said, ~~‘I’ve~~ only been able to save this.~~’ ‘That~~ is the only part that you have not saved,’ smiled the Prophet, ~~‘for~~ whatever you give away in the name of Allah, you save, and whatever you keep for yourself, you lose.’”}}		{{Quote\|[http://www.islamawareness.net/Muhammed/ibn_kathir_wives.html/ Ibn Kathir, ''The Wives of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)''].\|The Prophet had sacrificed an animal, and Ayesha was so generous in sharing the meat out amongst the poor that she found that she had left nothing for the Messenger’s large household except the shoulder of the animal. Feeling a little distressed, she went to the Prophet, and said, “I’ve only been able to save this.” “That is the only part that you have not saved,” smiled the Prophet, “for whatever you give away in the name of Allah, you save, and whatever you keep for yourself, you lose.”}}
	The shoulder was Muhammad’s favourite part of the sheep.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 516</ref>		The shoulder was Muhammad’s favourite part of the sheep.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 516</ref>

1234567 at 04:49, 20 June 2013

2013-06-20T04:49:08Z

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	At first her playmates “felt shy of Allah’s Messenger”<ref>{{Muslim\|31\|5981}}.</ref> and “used to hide themselves” when Muhammad entered her house, “but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|8\|73\|151}}</ref> At festival time her friends sang badly and beat tambourines in her house, although Muhammad came to lie down there. Abu Bakr rebuked them: “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet!” But Muhammad told the girls not to stop their play for him.<ref>{{Bukhari\|2\|15\|70}}; {{Bukhari\|2\|15\|72}}.</ref> Later that day, some Abyssinian guests put on a display in the mosque courtyard to demonstrate their prowess with shields and spears. Women were not really allowed, but Muhammad circumvented the regulation by standing in front of Aisha at her front door, screening her with his cloak, so that she could watch the performance without being seen.<ref>{{Bukhari\|2\|15\|70}}.</ref> She once beat him in a running race. Later, after she had put on weight, they raced again, and he won, remarking, “This pays you back for that other time!”<ref>{{Abudawud\|14\|2572}}.</ref> Given the chance to mount an unbroken camel, she drove it “round and round” until Muhammad had to remind her to be gentle with the animal.<ref>{{Muslim\|32\|6275}}; {{Muslim\|32\|6274}}. See also {{Abudawud\|41\|4790}}.</ref>		At first her playmates “felt shy of Allah’s Messenger”<ref>{{Muslim\|31\|5981}}.</ref> and “used to hide themselves” when Muhammad entered her house, “but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me.”<ref>{{Bukhari\|8\|73\|151}}</ref> At festival time her friends sang badly and beat tambourines in her house, although Muhammad came to lie down there. Abu Bakr rebuked them: “Musical instruments of Satan near the Prophet!” But Muhammad told the girls not to stop their play for him.<ref>{{Bukhari\|2\|15\|70}}; {{Bukhari\|2\|15\|72}}.</ref> Later that day, some Abyssinian guests put on a display in the mosque courtyard to demonstrate their prowess with shields and spears. Women were not really allowed, but Muhammad circumvented the regulation by standing in front of Aisha at her front door, screening her with his cloak, so that she could watch the performance without being seen.<ref>{{Bukhari\|2\|15\|70}}.</ref> She once beat him in a running race. Later, after she had put on weight, they raced again, and he won, remarking, “This pays you back for that other time!”<ref>{{Abudawud\|14\|2572}}.</ref> Given the chance to mount an unbroken camel, she drove it “round and round” until Muhammad had to remind her to be gentle with the animal.<ref>{{Muslim\|32\|6275}}; {{Muslim\|32\|6274}}. See also {{Abudawud\|41\|4790}}.</ref>

	But what these “innocent” episodes demonstrate, above anything else, is that Aisha ''was'' a child. A grown woman does not play with dolls and swings. Aisha was just a little girl who, like any other little girl, was inconsiderate about noise<ref>{{Bukhari\|2\|15\|72}}</ref> and could not cook.<ref>Al-Nasa’i 8917 tells an incident where a co-wife declines to eat Aisha’s cooking and Muhammad also avoids tasting it; since politeness compelled people, even if “not hungry,” to accept at least a small portion, the food is presumably not fit to eat. {{Bukhari\|3\|48\|829}} reveals that Aisha usually delegated the daily baking to her maid and did not even watch the rising dough reliably. In Hanbal, ''Musnad'' vol. 6 p. 227 (see also {{Bukhari\|1\|7\|152}}), the teenaged Aisha is so jealous of a co-wife’s superior culinary skills that she smashes her dish.</ref> While (as shown above) she could be surprisingly assertive towards her elders, she was no match for Muhammad on an ongoing basis. In such a situation of power imbalance, she often resorted to ~~expressing her displeasure~~ indirectly, by declaiming, “By the lord of Ibrahim,” instead of her usual, “By the lord of Muhammad.” However, he took the hint.<ref>{{Bukhari\|7\|62\|155}}.</ref>		But what these “innocent” episodes demonstrate, above anything else, is that Aisha ''was'' a child. A grown woman does not play with dolls and swings. Aisha was just a little girl who, like any other little girl, was inconsiderate about noise<ref>{{Bukhari\|2\|15\|72}}</ref> and could not cook.<ref>Al-Nasa’i 8917 tells an incident where a co-wife declines to eat Aisha’s cooking and Muhammad also avoids tasting it; since politeness compelled people, even if “not hungry,” to accept at least a small portion, the food is presumably not fit to eat. {{Bukhari\|3\|48\|829}} reveals that Aisha usually delegated the daily baking to her maid and did not even watch the rising dough reliably. In Hanbal, ''Musnad'' vol. 6 p. 227 (see also {{Bukhari\|1\|7\|152}}), the teenaged Aisha is so jealous of a co-wife’s superior culinary skills that she smashes her dish.</ref> While (as shown above) she could be surprisingly assertive towards her elders, she was no match for Muhammad on an ongoing basis. In such a situation of power imbalance, she often resorted to hinting indirectly when she was angry with him, by declaiming, “By the lord of Ibrahim,” instead of her usual, “By the lord of Muhammad.” However, he took the hint.<ref>{{Bukhari\|7\|62\|155}}.</ref>

	===Poverty===		===Poverty===

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:29, 23 June 2013
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	When Khadijah died in April 620, “the Prophet was terribly grieved over her,”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:54.</ref> and “people feared for him.”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:44.</ref> After only a few days, Khawlah bint Hakim, the sister-in-law of his friend [[Umar al Khattab (quotes)\|Umar]],<ref>She was married to Uthman ibn Mazoon (Guillaume/Ishaq 590), whose sister Zaynab was married to Umar (Bewley/Saad 8:56).</ref> decided that he needed a new wife. She called on Muhammad to tell him that she knew of both a maid and a matron whom he might [[Marriage\|marry]] and asked which one he would prefer. He immediately responded that he would take them both.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|p. 129}}.</ref>		When Khadijah died in April 620, “the Prophet was terribly grieved over her,”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:54.</ref> and “people feared for him.”<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:44.</ref> After only a few days, Khawlah bint Hakim, the sister-in-law of his friend [[Umar al Khattab (quotes)\|Umar]],<ref>She was married to Uthman ibn Mazoon (Guillaume/Ishaq 590), whose sister Zaynab was married to Umar (Bewley/Saad 8:56).</ref> decided that he needed a new wife. She called on Muhammad to tell him that she knew of both a maid and a matron whom he might [[Marriage\|marry]] and asked which one he would prefer. He immediately responded that he would take them both.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|p. 129}}.</ref>

	The maid was Abu Bakr’s daughter. It is often claimed that Muhammad married her “to reinforce the friendly relations already existing with Abu Bakr.”<ref>[http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel6.htm/ ''Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?''].</ref> In one sense this is true: Abu Bakr was one of the few men in Mecca who would still have been willing to give him a daughter.<ref>For Muhammad’s unpopularity with his pagan neighbours, see Guillaume/Ishaq 191-194.</ref> But this assertion mistakes cause and effect. The marriage did not “promote” any alliance with Abu Bakr; rather, it was the existing close bond with Abu Bakr that made the marriage possible. Muhammad’s request to his friend might not even have reflected Khawlah’s original intention, for the oral traditions about Muhammad’s life were first put in writing long after his death,<ref>Siddiqi, M. Z. (2006). ''Hadith Literature: Its Origin, Development, Special Features and Criticism'', pp. 8-9. “''Hadith'' which thus spread throughout the vast Muslim dominions had been preserved for a century partly in writing (in the form of laws and letters dictated by Muhammad himself, and in the form of various ''Sahifahs'' ascribed to many of his Companions), and partly in the memory of those who had associated with him and watched carefully his words and deeds. After the death of Muhammad, Umar I intended to collect the ''Ahadith''. He gave the matter his careful consideration for one whole month, invoking the help of God in his decision, and seeking the advice of his friends. But he had to give up the great project for fear of the Qur’an being neglected by the Muslims.” Kuala Lumpar: Islamic Book Trust.</ref> and it could be that they have been distorted by narrators who did not know about the interview with Khawlah until they also had hind-knowledge of its result. It is not impossible that Khawlah originally mentioned “Abu Bakr’s daughter” without giving the name, and that she had actually been referring to his elder daughter Asma. Regardless of whether or not Khawlah was complicit in the eventual outcome, what happened was that Muhammad~~, the Apostle of Allah,~~ completely overlooked the sixteen-year-old Asma<ref>[http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=4604&CATE=1/ Haddad] cites Al-Dhahabi in ''Siyar Alam al-Nubala'' vol. 2 p. 289: “Asma was ten years older than Aisha.” Haddad points out that Al-Dhahabi elsewhere suggests Asma might have been even older than this, possibly as old as twenty-five.</ref> and asked instead to marry the six-year-old Aisha.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|p. 129}}; {{Bukhari\|7\|62\|18}}.</ref>		The maid was Abu Bakr’s daughter. It is often claimed that Muhammad married her “to reinforce the friendly relations already existing with Abu Bakr.”<ref>[http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel6.htm/ ''Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?''].</ref> In one sense this is true: Abu Bakr was one of the few men in Mecca who would still have been willing to give him a daughter.<ref>For Muhammad’s unpopularity with his pagan neighbours, see Guillaume/Ishaq 191-194.</ref> But this assertion mistakes cause and effect. The marriage did not “promote” any alliance with Abu Bakr; rather, it was the existing close bond with Abu Bakr that made the marriage possible. Muhammad’s request to his friend might not even have reflected Khawlah’s original intention, for the oral traditions about Muhammad’s life were first put in writing long after his death,<ref>Siddiqi, M. Z. (2006). ''Hadith Literature: Its Origin, Development, Special Features and Criticism'', pp. 8-9. “''Hadith'' which thus spread throughout the vast Muslim dominions had been preserved for a century partly in writing (in the form of laws and letters dictated by Muhammad himself, and in the form of various ''Sahifahs'' ascribed to many of his Companions), and partly in the memory of those who had associated with him and watched carefully his words and deeds. After the death of Muhammad, Umar I intended to collect the ''Ahadith''. He gave the matter his careful consideration for one whole month, invoking the help of God in his decision, and seeking the advice of his friends. But he had to give up the great project for fear of the Qur’an being neglected by the Muslims.” Kuala Lumpar: Islamic Book Trust.</ref> and it could be that they have been distorted by narrators who did not know about the interview with Khawlah until they also had hind-knowledge of its result. It is not impossible that Khawlah originally mentioned “Abu Bakr’s daughter” without giving the name, and that she had actually been referring to his elder daughter Asma. Regardless of whether or not Khawlah was complicit in the eventual outcome, what happened was that Muhammad completely overlooked the sixteen-year-old Asma<ref>[http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=4604&CATE=1/ Haddad] cites Al-Dhahabi in ''Siyar Alam al-Nubala'' vol. 2 p. 289: “Asma was ten years older than Aisha.” Haddad points out that Al-Dhahabi elsewhere suggests Asma might have been even older than this, possibly as old as twenty-five.</ref> and asked instead to marry the six-year-old Aisha.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|p. 129}}; {{Bukhari\|7\|62\|18}}.</ref>

	It is also suggested that Muhammad “married Aisha for the benefit of Islam and Humanity … From her, 2210 Hadith have come... Many of her transmissions pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of personal behaviour which only someone in Aisha's position could have learnt.”<ref>[http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel6.htm/ ''Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?'']</ref> There is no evidence to support this theory. If Muhammad had wanted the traditions about his life to be securely transmitted to posterity, he would not have relied on the hope that his young widow might later think of it; he would have arranged to have them committed to writing during his lifetime. He never did. Further, if he had believed that a wife was the best kind of chronicler, he would have chosen an adult spouse who knew how to write. Aisha could in fact read<ref>{{Bukhari\|6\|61\|515}}; {{Muslim\|37\|6673}}.</ref> but she never learned to write.<ref>Baladhuri, ''Conquest of the Lands'', cited in [http://english.sahartv.ir/media/pdf/The%20Unschooled%20Prophet.pdf/ Mutahhari, S. A. M. ''The Unschooled Prophet''. Tehran: Islamic Propagation Organization.] “It is reported that Aisha used to read the Qur’an but she did not write.”</ref>		It is also suggested that Muhammad “married Aisha for the benefit of Islam and Humanity … From her, 2210 Hadith have come... Many of her transmissions pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of personal behaviour which only someone in Aisha's position could have learnt.”<ref>[http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel6.htm/ ''Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?'']</ref> There is no evidence to support this theory. If Muhammad had wanted the traditions about his life to be securely transmitted to posterity, he would not have relied on the hope that his young widow might later think of it; he would have arranged to have them committed to writing during his lifetime. He never did. Further, if he had believed that a wife was the best kind of chronicler, he would have chosen an adult spouse who knew how to write. Aisha could in fact read<ref>{{Bukhari\|6\|61\|515}}; {{Muslim\|37\|6673}}.</ref> but she never learned to write.<ref>Baladhuri, ''Conquest of the Lands'', cited in [http://english.sahartv.ir/media/pdf/The%20Unschooled%20Prophet.pdf/ Mutahhari, S. A. M. ''The Unschooled Prophet''. Tehran: Islamic Propagation Organization.] “It is reported that Aisha used to read the Qur’an but she did not write.”</ref>